Case study in Republican insanity: California to go belly-up?

[Dinner]

So, what this boils down to is that apparently the Democrats have chosen to violate the constitution instead of the propositions for no particularly good reason? Gotcha.

Can a mod please change the thread title?

How you can consistently draw nonsensical conclusions which are exactly the opposite of reality I will never know.

[Darius871]

Leaders also met Maldonado's demands to remove a provision to increase the gas tax, freeze legislators' salaries in deficit budget years and to eliminate new office furniture budgeted for the state controller.

Maldonado for prez

[Patroklos]

So are you denying that the Democrats are chosing to violate one constitutional requirement over another? The Republican's are doing the same, but at least their reasoning for doing so makes sense.

You yourself called the proposition system stupid in this very thread, why would you support proping it up over the balanced budget requirement?

Note I support tax increases and budget cuts to get to zero deficiet spending.

[Dinner]

Will this work, or is it not nearly enough?

It's a big positive step in the right direction but the previous grand budget compromise included about $14 billion in new borrowing even with the gas tax increase. I suspect this means the budget problems are not solved even though we're now looking at maybe a $20 billion per year deficit instead of a $40 billion one. More tax increases and budget cuts will be needed next year so really the fight has just been put on hold for a year.

[Unimatrix11]

Dis, isnt gambling-taxes a huge factor in NV´s budget? Does Cali allow gambling ? Last time i was there, they closed everything down at like 1am or when was it? Herded everyone out to the street, where the cops were waiting - i immediately felt there was an austrian in power...

Patroklos: If you set a number of people on the streets and give raises to the rest, expect crime to sky-rocket. And then we are back at the jail problem...

[Patroklos]

I wasn't aware that the intitial instinct of people was to begin robbing/raping/murdering upon losing their job.

You can't have your cake and eat it too. I will give Obama credit, his speech yesterday (despite the applauding baffoons) was right on, it is time for buisness/government/individuals to start living within their means.

[Darius871]

I wasn't aware that the intitial instinct of people was to begin robbing/raping/murdering upon losing their job.

It depends on whether an adequate safety net survives budget crises. If people don't have it between jobs, you'd better believe there'd be riots & looting to survive, whether justified or not.

[DinoDoc]

Californians riot and loot if thier team wins a game Darius.

[Kidlicious]

You can't have your cake and eat it too. I will give Obama credit, his speech yesterday (despite the applauding baffoons) was right on, it is time for buisness/government/individuals to start living within their means.

We actually live below our means. We could be living a lot better.

[Darius871]

Californians riot and loot if thier team wins a game Darius.

My point exactly.

[Dinner]

Dis, isnt gambling-taxes a huge factor in NV´s budget? Does Cali allow gambling ?

In a very, very limited sense it does allow gambling. The state has a lottery where you can buy $1 tickets and it is legal to bet limited sums at a few historically designated horse racing tracks which were grandfathered in because they were popular in the 19th century. Of course, per Federal law, Indian reservations can offer limited (but less limited then the rest of the state) gambling casinos but they are, by compact with the state, required to "share" profits with the state and subject themselves to audits by the state in order to prevent money laundering at those casinos. Vegas it is not if you want to be a high roller but if you want to play the quarter slots, some power ball, and bet limited sums on black jack then you can do that on Indian reservations.

[Dinner]

Maldonado for prez

Those two items are really a non-issue since you already can't pass a salary increase in a deficit year and dig at the state controller about buying office furniture amounted to a few thousand dollars. Not much compared to the $41 billion budget deficit. Essentially removing the gas tax increase (which was earmarked for building light rail and the states bullet train system) was the only big change from the previous grand budget compromise. Those other two non-issues were just window dressing to give Republicans cover for flip flopping on their position in just 24 hours.

[Dinner]

Californians riot and loot if thier team wins a game Darius.

Huh? Not every often and certainly less often then a lot of other places.

[Agathon]

I wasn't aware that the intitial instinct of people was to begin robbing/raping/murdering upon losing their job.

Dude, Californians start doing that if a court case doesn't go the way they want it. Mass layoffs are likely to cause worse.

[Imran Siddiqui]